Joseph Parker arrives to hero's welcome in Samoa

New Zealand Heavyweight boxer and WBO champion Joseph Parker has landed in Samoa, greeted with a hero's welcome. Photo / Photosport

World heavyweight champion Joseph Parker has arrived to a hero's welcome in Samoa.

Parker arrived at the place of his parent's birth yesterday, showing off his new WBO belt to crowds who lined the roads from Faleolo airport on the 40-minute drive into Apia.

Banners stretched above the road read: "Welcome home hero", and "Welcome home warrior".

Parker, 24, claimed the title with a majority decision victory over Mexican Andy Ruiz Jr at Vector Arena last weekend.

This morning he is scheduled to meet the country's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi to give thanks for his country's financial support of the fight, and to investigate the possibility of holding a defence in Apia.

Parker's promoter David Higgins arrived in the country late last night and is due to meet the prime minister this afternoon.

Higgins and Duco Events partner Dean Lonergan like the idea of holding a fight at Apia Park, where the All Blacks played their historic test against Manu Samoa last year.

Auckland or Dunedin, or possibly the United Kingdom, are also in the mix as Duco weigh up possible venues. Parker's next opponent is likely to be undefeated Englishman Hughie Fury.